The Surf Cafe Cookbook launch at Shells Cafe

Jane Chambers, owner of Shells Cafe, gives us the rundown on last week’s event…

What a night! Last Thursday, Shells was converted from a seaside cafe to a Beach Bar as we kicked off The Surf Cafe Cookbook. We decked the cafe with wild flowers, beautiful hand-made doily bunting and a selection of postcards from the book illustrator Paula Mills.

The purpose of the night was of course to reveal our cook book but also to celebrate and enjoy Shells with all our customers and friends who have supported us since day one. Among the throngs were the lads from Go Strandhill, Cathy Jordan, all the local press and even ITV turned up to film for an upcoming documentary.

The vibe was great, the sun was shining and the wine was flowing. We sold loads and loads of books, but most importantly everyone seems to love it – big relief! The book is so much more than just a cook book though. It features tips about cooking, hints about the type of foods to buy, suggestions about shopping including a great section on farmers’ markets. There is a wonderful section on foraging, helping you discover all sorts of edible delights on your doorstep.

We couldn’t have done it without the support from the Strandhill crew, but in particular to Kris & Ian for the wonderful food, all the girls in Shells for the great service, Tricky for the sound system, Chris for the fabulous beats and Julian for emergency electrical help.

A special thanks to Andrew Kilfeather for the wonderful portraits from the night – he captured the true spirit of Shells!

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